Packers primed for early playoff spot (Reuters)
(Reuters) – The unbeaten Green Bay Packers can secure their place in the playoffs and take a step towards the ‘perfect season’ when they face the New York Giants on Sunday while the San Francisco 49ers could join them in the post-season with a win over St.Louis. The schedule has not been kind to the Giants who come off Monday night’s 49-24 mauling in New Orleans and now face the 11-0 Super Bowl champion Packers and the league’s most feared quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There are numerous ways that Green Bay can make sure of a playoff place with a quarter of the regular season remaining, the most obvious being a victory, but other scenarios include losses for Chicago, Atlanta or Detroit
Buzzetti returns to Fiji coaching job (AP)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)—Fiji has reinstated Uruguayan Juan Carlos Buzzetti as national team coach two years after he was dismissed from the position. Buzzetti coached Fiji for three years until 2009.
Leach agrees to coach Washington State (AP)
SPOKANE, Wash. – Mike Leach is bringing his high-powered passing offense — and swashbuckling style — to long-dormant Washington State. The school said Wednesday that the pirate-loving former Texas Tech coach agreed in principle to a five-year contract.
Warriors’ Jackson visits 49ers’ Harbaugh (AP)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)—New Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson can learn from 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh when it comes to preparing for a season in short order because of a lockout. Jackson brought his staff to San Francisco’s practice Wednesday and met with Harbaugh before the NFC West-leading Niners (9-2) took the field gearing up for Sunday’s game against St.
Column: Boeheim will survive, but at a price (AP)
The standing ovations Jim Boeheim got on the court that bears his name were evidence enough that Syracuse fans believe their coach has done no wrong. So was the statement of support from his top boss, though Boeheim insists he never worried about his job in 36 years and isn’t about to start now. Joe Paterno couldn’t hang on when the child sex abuse scandal exploded at Penn State, but this seems different.
With lockout nearing end, basketball back in focus (AP)
NEW YORK – These are the kinds of negotiations NBA fans have been waiting for. Teams began talking to agents Wednesday as the lockout inched closer to its end, and basketball moved back into focus. Dwight Howard and Chris Paul were linked to trade speculation, while free agents such as Tyson Chandler and Nene were in the news after months of attorneys getting all the ink.
Forget ’11 (or so Red Sox hope): Bobby V is coming (AP)
BOSTON – Players eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games. If it didn’t bother Bobby Valentine as a baseball lifer, it would certainly offend his sensibilities as a self-proclaimed gourmet chef.
Broncos rookie LB Miller misses practice (AP)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—Batman might have to go it alone Sunday. Elvis Dumervil’s(notes) sidekick, Von Miller(notes), missed practice Wednesday after undergoing a surgical procedure to repair a strained ligament in his right thumb, which he hurt at San Diego last weekend
FC Dallas re-signs midfielder Daniel Hernandez to three-year player-coach deal (Goal.com)
FC Dallas announced it has re-signed veteran midfielder Daniel Hernandez to a three-year contract extension on Wednesday. Under the new deal, Hernandez will play at least one more season with FCD before transitioning to an assistant coach role. “Daniel has been such a great leader for us in the locker room and on the field,” said head coach Schellas Hyndman
Manchester United 1-2 Crystal Palace (AET): Ambrose thunderbolt & Murray clincher dump hosts out of League Cup (Goal.com)
Crystal Palace shocked Manchester United by earning a historic 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in the League Cup on Wednesday night, securing a place in the semifinals.